Luncheon voucher use earns boss a warning

A Paris company boss received a nine-page reprimand from employment inspec­tors... because an employee had used a luncheon voucher on a Sunday.

Tickets restaurant, Chèques restaurant, Chèque déjeuner and Chèque de table are only to be used to buy a meal or food for a meal on working days but the worker was not working. If they had they been working they should have used vouchers stating that they were at work on a Sunday or jour férié.

Under the Code de Travail staff cannot eat at their desk or work post and firms that have more than 25 staff must offer luncheon vouchers or set up
a canteen.

The firm and staff split costs and all staff get the same value. For tax reasons it is rarely more than €10.42 and averages €7.50.

Many lunchtime menus are priced to meet vouchers, with €12 a common price point.

It is no surprise France has an eat-out lifestyle when so many people get vouchers but the rules are widely flouted. Many workers use them for shopping or to pay for meals out and shops and restaurants have little interest in refusing custom.